Intersectional Perspectives
Gender, Socioeconomic Activities and How the Elderly Create Sustainable Livelihoods
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Rattiya Fisher
Thailand rapidly became an aging society, the majority of whom reside in rural areas in which are labelled as being dependent on the state. Policies have been implemented to address the perceived burden of the elderly on communities and the state as most elderly are engaged in agricultural work that is not covered by any formal welfare. They are assumed to be abandoned to the difficulties of their lives and struggle to live. The sustainable livelihood framework and a gender perspective were applied to investigate how various socioeconomic activities of the elderly enable them to access resources for the maintenance of their lives and contribute to society without being a burden. Focus groups and in-depth interviews with male and female elderly and carers were conducted to distinguish the various activities that serve their differing livelihood needs. The study highlights that the socioeconomic activities of the elderly at household and community levels enable them to cultivate and utilize various assets for their own and other’s needs. Gender roles determine the different socioeconomic activities that the elderly engage in and the range of assets they can access. These activities enable the elderly to maintain their lives and those of others despite insufficient state support. Both male and female elderly continue to actively engage in and contribute to families and the communities to which they belong. In implementing ageing policy in Thailand, the government needs to consider gender differentiation and abilities of the elderly.
Does Gender Influence the Quality of Life among Elderly in a Rural Community in Thailand?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Korravarn Yodmai
Quality of life for the elderly is an issue of public health concern. Previously, several studies used WHOQOL-BREF measurement to determine QOL in Elderly and they found that gender differences related with their QOL level. Currently, we used a new measurement (WHOQOL-OLD measurement). Limitation of study tested the QOL level in gender difference by using a WHOQOL-OLD tool. This study aims to investigated the QOL level in gender difference, and explore the factors associated with QOL in gender difference. Two settings (Northern and Center regions in Thailand) are included between 2012-2015. Multivariate analysis exploring the factors related with the quality of life and gender difference. The results show that no statistical significance was found the associated between gender and quality of life in aging by using WHOQOL-OLD. Therefore, this study found that factors associated with a good quality of life in male were an aged < 75 years and sufficient income. With female, factors association with a good quality of life were aged < 80 years, sufficient income, have a family member ≥ 2 persons, and have no history of insomnia. Our study indicates that no association between gender and the quality of life in aging which was measured by the WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire.
Career Motivations and Experiences of Male Care Workers at the Intersections of Age and Gender
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Laura Hodsdon
Among the societal challenges posed by the rapidly ageing population is that of providing sufficient financial and human resource for residential and end-of-life care. In Cornwall in south-west England, as in the rest of the UK, there is a care work recruitment crisis. Low pay means many potential employees prefer other, often seasonal work that is readily available (such as in hospitality or tourism), and existing employees are likely to move away from the sector for even a modest increase in salary. In this context, it is striking that over 80% of the care workforce is female (Skills for Care 2017). This paper reports on a qualitative study of men in care roles to identify barriers and opportunities to respond to the recruitment crisis by unlocking this potentially large sector of the workforce. Interviews with male care workers and residential care home managers were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Participants’ interpretations of their colleagues’, their own, and their clients’ normative roles reveal a complex interplay of stereotypes both reinforced and rejected, that lie at the intersections of gender and age. These differing narratives and assumptions about ‘who does what’ have potential implications for the elder care workforce. Even if we could succeed in recruiting more men to care roles, what impact might this have on the work environment? What impact might it have on the experience of being cared for? How might the intersection of age and gender affect our ability to recruit the next generation of care workers?
